[lea11]

For example, I grew up speaking Korean, so I'm pretty fluent. But I'm not sure how it sounds to other people. Some have said it is a cross between Chinese and Japanese, or even Tagalog. Some said it was very aggressive and angry-sounding.

I think if you speak Korean in a calm manner, it sounds more Japanese. However if you were speaking Korean in a heated argument/with more feelings and passion, it sounds more Chinese. Get what I'm saying?

For me, I wouldn't know how Korean sounds to non-speakers. However, with OTHER Asian languages, I'll just be honest and blunt so don't get offended:

Chinese: sounds whiny, a bit aggressive, loud. (I don't want to say 'annoying') Usually people have really high voices..? I can't tell the difference between Cantonese or Mandarin... they all sound the same. But Chinese is DEFINITELY the loudest LOL.
Japanese: Very constructed, monotone-ish, rigid, like 'dun dun dun'. It's like blocks.
Tagalog: Sounds SORT of similar to Chinese, but with some more 'jibberish' tone to it.
Thai: Also like Chinese.....
Arabic: It sounds like you're coughing out phlegm or something, like you have an itchy throat.

LOL PARDON MY BLUNTNESS.

Okay I give up.
Post your opinions. It's okay to be honest. After all, all our languages came from similar roots... I believe.. at least Korean has a LOT of Chinese and Japanese influence.

[lekaaa]

LOL I'm Thai and I am not offended by this at all. I actually think its kind of funny in a crude sort of way. Lets see, in my opinion its scary to hear a Chinese person screaming. Their so passionate about it. Its abrasive, but I also think Thai people (especially women) are very aggressive and high pitched as well. I don't know, its something about high pitched Asian women screaming that bother me.

I can tell when someone is speaking Vietnamese when I hear a lot of "duc", if anyone knows what I mean LOL. I also agree Japanese is a bit monotone, unless their impressed or surprised then their tone is different. I love hearing my Japanese friend say "Sa-guey!!" when she's excited.

All in all...I love how most Asians can recognize which language is which while other people are clueless.

[xorgasmxmachinex]

I took some Mandarin for about 4 yrs, so to me it sounds like Mandarin. I can tell the difference between Cantonese and Mandarin.

Korean, to me, sounds whiny...like OPAAAAHHHH~~~ Sorry its all from dramas.
Japanese does sound like "dun dun dun dun"

Thai/Viet, to me, sounds kinda like Cantonese, it takes me awhile to know its Thai or Viet.

All I know is if anyone is screaming at you, regardless of the language, it is pretty scary.

[jaeka]

I'm really used to Japanese being spoken so it I cannot relate with the "dun dun dun dun" but to me, put's pressure on the last word when being spoken, that's how I spot a japanese speaker.
Kyou wa totemo samui DESU xD

Chinese, I think Mandarin sounds really posh and SH. You hear a lot of sh noises. Cantonese, I looove hearing that spoken, it flows out of the mouth and there's a lot of aa, ge, a, ya, ma, at the end of their sentences. Love it.

Korean, AYO. IYO. EYO. Srsly that's all I hear. Plus a lot of j noises. It sounds jeyo. jiyo. jayo. x) Sounds like Japanese from a distance, up close sounds all j-y and ayo, eyo, iyo-y. xD Loads of mal. and words get dragged on a bit so it sounds whiney. :)

Vietnamese sounds very throaty. sounds sharp.

Thai sounds smooth. XD I haven't heard it spoken much but when I did, that's my first impression. "smooth"

[Regina Rae]

Mandarin-I think Mandarin sounds very bright and happy. But also very repetitive.
Whenever I listen to songs in Mandarin, all I hear is bascially "Lou tou zou vou cho chu" -________-.

Korean-This langauge is very masculine to me. Almost a bit rude sounding.
There is alot of "kkkk" and "chhh" sounds in the Korean language....It makes it very dry and rough.

Japanese-I can't listen to Japanese for a long period of time, because it drives me crazy (no offense)
It always sounds like Japanese people (especialy the men) have alot of spit in their mouth and they speak with their mouth barely open.
I don't know. Really. When I listen to Japanese people talking, it's sooooo *bangs head against wall*

Thai-I think Thai sounds very close to Mandarin & Cantonese. But a little more drawn out and whiny.
.

[vip_gd]

Korean
it sounds very whiney especially when the person's mad or something. i've also noticed, they grunt and moan a lot. you know, those 'sounds'. but it's a nice language, the words flow well.

Mandarin
ahh mandarin ..
it's a very loud language. i don't like it at all. everytime those mainlanders talk to me, it seems like they're angry at me haha. but on the brighter note, when it's spoken softly, it sounds melodious.

Japanese
it is monotonish. there's no tones so it's easy to pronounce the words. it's sounds very timid and uhh.. relaxing?
when you speak it, it's like CHOP CHOP CHOP.

Thai
it sounds weird to me. it's like, they're pausing at every word

[IwishIwasKOREAN]

Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Thai can sound really funny to me because of all the tones, and especially with those with high pitched voices. I used to watch a lot of movies that speak those languages.

Korean can sound Japanese at times (yes I know it's not the same), especially to those who are not aware of either language. This topic reminds of Korean History channel, people who make comments...some will say they sound like Koreans speaking English vs Japanese speaking English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ptyzc4BQliY

Filipino sounds more like Malay or Indonesian (Austronesian), or for those Pacific Islander Pride people...it sounds Hawaiin but of course the Filipino language has influences from Spanish and Chinese as well.

But I think it depends on the individual, some people can make the languages very appealing while others can make it seem very annoying.

This topic about Asian languages also reminds me of the Ken Jeong joke about Korean and Vietnamese:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnwUJ-wG9NQ

[Hazy]

I think Chinese is definitely the loudest, lol. My bf gets scared when I speak canto to my parents because he says I sound so agro. xD

Vietnamese has a really strong accent to it but I think it sounds neutral.

IMO, Filipino sounds cute because of all the cute little sounds in it. It doesn't sound agro at all (well, not when you raise your voice =D).

Japanese has a really singsong tone to it and so does Korean (but a lot less singsong than Japanese). :]

[~Madrid~]

I'm Europeanm but Asian to me sounds like; "L�i �i Chong ket�ichi" (Spanish pronunciation)


I think "Lay ay chong Kuh tay she" in English pronunciation

[oohdi]

^ asian isnt a language. uh ok..

khmer sounds like a song played backwards
tagalog sounds spanish and sounds like they are saying each syllable at a time. does that even make sense? haha

my friend said vietnamese sounds like fighting chickens
lol.. she's white

saying how it sounds like "fighting chickens" (referring to Vietnamese...really? REALLY? are you in 1st grade?)

yes.. she's in first grade.

dont be offended. vietnamese sounds nice.

[~Madrid~]

^ asian isnt a language.

khmer sounds like a song played backwards
tagalog sounds spanish and sounds like they are saying each syllable at a time. does that even make sense? haha

my friend said vietnamese sounds like fighting chickens
lol.. she's white

XD I know I know. Asian is not a language, but it is one to me. It�s to say I can understand a lot of Portuguese, Catalan, Gallego, Italian, some French, and Valencian because of spanish and they sound the same to foriegners. So, I figure it applys to the Asian languages

[lea11]

^ asian isnt a language. uh ok..

khmer sounds like a song played backwards
tagalog sounds spanish and sounds like they are saying each syllable at a time. does that even make sense? haha

my friend said vietnamese sounds like fighting chickens
lol.. she's white

LOL fighting chickens. I love the descriptions!

[youngbaellaine]

So, I grew up speaking a dialect of Philippines.
Then, learned Tagalog (Main dialect).
Whenever I heard "Asian", I always thought of Chinese..
And every time I heard them, I found it pretty interesting.
They spoke so fast...

Then I started getting into Kpop and Jpop,
And discovered Cpop...
Realized that their languages are so sic.
I love walking around the downtown of my city,
Asians galore! It's fun trying to distinguish what they are,
'Cause everyone speaks a different language.
Crazy fun. ;D

[Cherry-sama]

It's kind of easy for me to tell the difference between Japanese, Korean, and Chinese, but mostly when it comes to music. XD

Unlike how my dad describes those languages (they all apparently sound like 'Chinese', you know what I mean. >_>), they all do have their differences if I listen really closely if I hear people talking irl.

Korean kind of sounds like Spanish, or some kind of babble. o_O

Chinese kind of sounds robotic. XD

Japanese, I can't explain too much, but I'd know if it I heard it. (If someone says desu at the end, anyway. XD)

[xd0nut]

Korean people drag on the last syllable and emphasize words with their throats "kkkkk.."
I don't think that Korean sounds harsh, but one of my [non-Korean] friends said that it's the scariest language of all.

To me, Viet, Thai and Tagalog sound similar.

Cantonese goes up, down. up, down.
Mandarin has lots words that sounds like it will make spit, but actually doesn't (Iono xD) like sh, ch, tz, etc.
(Both Mandarin and Cantonese are loud)

Japanese sounds choppy and usually fast.
I think it rolls off the tongue the easiest.

[dancingbymyself]

I think that japanese sound pretty. It's kind of lyrical and the way
words never end in consonants makes it comfortable to the ear.


Mandarin used to sound bad to me, but recently I started watched chinese dramas
and it grew on me alot.

Finally viet, thai, cantonese tagalong, all sound really annoying...

[the_summerangel]

Okay so here we go!

Mandarin: Sounds very... syllabic, meaning that every syllabe as a consonant + vowel separated from the rest, so the words are really small and go fast in the language... They always look angry to me... My bf is taiwanese and I feel like his mom is ALWAYS angry or smth... and yea a lot of "sh" sound in it, but I'm used to it, it's the same in Portuguese (I'm half portuguese, half french quebecer)

Cantonese: It sounds weird to me for some reason... Like barbarious kind of... So complicated too with the accents and all, unpronouncable...

Vietnamese: Sounds complicated too xD but calmer for some reason, except when they use high pitch voice o__O

Japanese: Same tone yah, but it's funny cause most non asian languages do not have as much accents as asian ones, and japanese seems to be more occidental than oriental on that point... hmm. Very long words too, and they always have a consonant + vowel, they never have words with two consonants following each other (an example is in Final Fantasy, when they say "Cloud" it sounds like "Ke-Low-de", they can't say the "Cl" properly or have to put and "e" after the "d"...)

Korean: Very unique... I cannot sing a single song in Korean as I can in Japanese, so it's kinda sad... I can't sing to the songs I like!! xD to me, it sounds like very long words too and a lot of "gul" and "eul" things... very deep sounding in the throat... But I read that Korean is an original language, meaning that it does not derive from any other language, which would explain its uniqueness...

[f_r_E_a_K]

For example, I grew up speaking Korean, so I'm pretty fluent. But I'm not sure how it sounds to other people. Some have said it is a cross between Chinese and Japanese, or even Tagalog. Some said it was very aggressive and angry-sounding.

I think if you speak Korean in a calm manner, it sounds more Japanese. However if you were speaking Korean in a heated argument/with more feelings and passion, it sounds more Chinese. Get what I'm saying?

For me, I wouldn't know how Korean sounds to non-speakers. However, with OTHER Asian languages, I'll just be honest and blunt so don't get offended:

Chinese: sounds whiny, a bit aggressive, loud. (I don't want to say 'annoying') Usually people have really high voices..? I can't tell the difference between Cantonese or Mandarin... they all sound the same. But Chinese is DEFINITELY the loudest LOL.
Japanese: Very constructed, monotone-ish, rigid, like 'dun dun dun'. It's like blocks.
Tagalog: Sounds SORT of similar to Chinese, but with some more 'jibberish' tone to it.
Thai: Also like Chinese.....
Arabic: It sounds like you're coughing out phlegm or something, like you have an itchy throat.

LOL PARDON MY BLUNTNESS.

Okay I give up.
Post your opinions. It's okay to be honest. After all, all our languages came from similar roots... I believe.. at least Korean has a LOT of Chinese and Japanese influence.

WOW. Thank you for your "bluntness" (actually RUDENESS and you added more fuel to the fire with the immature "LOL" too), but obviously you're quite inexperienced with Asian languages if Cantonese and Mandarin sound THE SAME TO YOU. I mean...are you serious? You're taking on the ignorance of say, the stereotype of the "big-headed American yankee", and you're not sounding remotely funny nor intelligent when you wrote your thoughts.

I don't see how you can group Tagalog, Thai and Mandarin/Cantonese AS SOUNDING ALIKE unless, like I've stated before, your knowledge of Asian (this being a very broad category, I'm not going into any Altaic, Sino-Tibetan, etc. language families) languages is extremely limited.

You could have stated your opinions on how other Asian languages sound to your ears in a much more polite and socially acceptable method. I don't think you have realized the deep insult you have brought upon to the speakers of the languages you've degraded. Do you think a person who speaks Arabic would simply laugh off your comment of "coughing out phlegm or something, like you have an itchy throat" and say what a cute and funny person you are? No one with any decent amount of pride (which they are completely entitled to have) in their language would accept your cheek.

This thread has an interesting concept but has ultimately brought some very negative stereotypes of how other Asian languages sound to different people who don't speak it. Just browsing through this thread brings a really nasty reputation to various languages, and I would believe what these people are saying if I didn't know better and had respect for my fellow Asians.

Let's be mature people, okay? These languages may sound different and unusual to you (of course it would, it's foreign!), but that doesn't mean you have to step down to the point where you're insulting them, saying how it sounds like "fighting chickens" (referring to Vietnamese...really? REALLY? are you in 1st grade?) or "barbarious" (referring to Cantonese...it's not like Cantonese-speaking people poop in the middle of the street and live in caves ).

I just had to state this to give justice to all insulted persons from this thread. Of course, lea11 and anyone else are fully entitled to give their own opinions on how other Asian languages sound to them, but don't be so blatantly ignorant and "hahahaha this language sounds so stupid and ugly" to the point where you make an utter fool of yourself. Say what you want about this...flame me if you have to (haha yeah right), but I had to get this off my chest for righteousness.

Beauty is in the eye AND ear of the beholder, so if a certain language sounds unappealing to you, keep your mouth shut and try to make the best of it - appreciation is wonderful, and tolerance is a minimum.

And with that said, I'm out.

[lea11]

WOW. Thank you for your "bluntness" (actually RUDENESS and you added more fuel to the fire with the immature "LOL" too), but obviously you're quite inexperienced with Asian languages if Cantonese and Mandarin sound THE SAME TO YOU. I mean...are you serious? Uh .. yes, I've never learned Chinese. Ask most Koreans, they'll say the same thingYou're taking on the ignorance of say, the stereotype of the "big-headed American yankee" (at least I wasn't trying to be racist), and you're not sounding remotely funny nor intelligent when you wrote your thoughts. O RLY?

I don't see how you can group Tagalog, Thai and Mandarin/Cantonese AS SOUNDING ALIKE unless, like I've stated before, your knowledge of Asian (this being a very broad category, I'm not going into any Altaic, Sino-Tibetan, etc. language families) languages is extremely limited. ... an Asian language expert perhaps?

You could have stated your opinions on how other Asian languages sound to your ears in a much more polite and socially acceptable method. .. how? I don't think you have realized the deep insult (!) you have brought upon to the speakers of the languages you've degraded myself. Including myself, aye? MY GOODNESS! Do you think a person who speaks Arabic would simply laugh off your comment of "coughing out phlegm or something, like you have an itchy throat" and say what a cute and funny person you are? No.. and I don't think I'm cute nor funny.. but okay? No one with any decent amount of pride (which they are completely entitled to have) in their language would accept your cheek. Never asked for it.

This thread has an interesting concept but has ultimately brought some very negative stereotypes of how other Asian languages sound to different people who don't speak it. Just browsing through this thread brings a really nasty reputation to various languages, and I would believe what these people are saying if I didn't know better and had respect for my fellow Asians. Yes, because the people that have posted here are NOT Asians..

Let's be mature people, okay? These languages may sound different and unusual to you (of course it would, it's foreign!), but that doesn't mean you have to step down to the point where you're insulting them, saying how it sounds like "fighting chickens" (referring to Vietnamese...really? REALLY? are you in 1st grade?) or "barbarious" (referring to Cantonese...it's not like Cantonese-speaking people poop in the middle of the street and live in caves ). LOL wth?

I just had to state this to give justice to all insulted persons (=you) from this thread. Of course, lea11 and anyone else are fully entitled to give their own opinions on how other Asian languages sound to them, but don't be so blatantly ignorant and "hahahaha this language sounds so stupid and ugly" to the point where you make an utter fool of yourself. Oh how embarassing! Say what you want about this...flame me if you have to (haha yeah right), but I had to get this off my chest for righteousness. LOL what righteousness?
Beauty is in the eye AND ear of the beholder, so if a certain language sounds unappealing to you, keep your mouth shut and try to make the best of it - appreciation is wonderful, and tolerance is a minimum.

And with that said, I'm out. adios!

.... I'm not even going to bother replying since there are so many wrong assumptions this person made about me .. but, hey, if you can't take crude humour along with my obvious 'cute/funnyness', BUHBYE.

[kor3an__]

WOW. Thank you for your "bluntness" (actually RUDENESS and you added more fuel to the fire with the immature "LOL" too), but obviously you're quite inexperienced with Asian languages if Cantonese and Mandarin sound THE SAME TO YOU. I mean...are you serious? You're taking on the ignorance of say, the stereotype of the "big-headed American yankee", and you're not sounding remotely funny nor intelligent when you wrote your thoughts.

I don't see how you can group Tagalog, Thai and Mandarin/Cantonese AS SOUNDING ALIKE unless, like I've stated before, your knowledge of Asian (this being a very broad category, I'm not going into any Altaic, Sino-Tibetan, etc. language families) languages is extremely limited.

You could have stated your opinions on how other Asian languages sound to your ears in a much more polite and socially acceptable method. I don't think you have realized the deep insult you have brought upon to the speakers of the languages you've degraded. Do you think a person who speaks Arabic would simply laugh off your comment of "coughing out phlegm or something, like you have an itchy throat" and say what a cute and funny person you are? No one with any decent amount of pride (which they are completely entitled to have) in their language would accept your cheek.

This thread has an interesting concept but has ultimately brought some very negative stereotypes of how other Asian languages sound to different people who don't speak it. Just browsing through this thread brings a really nasty reputation to various languages, and I would believe what these people are saying if I didn't know better and had respect for my fellow Asians.

Let's be mature people, okay? These languages may sound different and unusual to you (of course it would, it's foreign!), but that doesn't mean you have to step down to the point where you're insulting them, saying how it sounds like "fighting chickens" (referring to Vietnamese...really? REALLY? are you in 1st grade?) or "barbarious" (referring to Cantonese...it's not like Cantonese-speaking people poop in the middle of the street and live in caves ).

I just had to state this to give justice to all insulted persons from this thread. Of course, lea11 and anyone else are fully entitled to give their own opinions on how other Asian languages sound to them, but don't be so blatantly ignorant and "hahahaha this language sounds so stupid and ugly" to the point where you make an utter fool of yourself. Say what you want about this...flame me if you have to (haha yeah right), but I had to get this off my chest for righteousness.

Beauty is in the eye AND ear of the beholder, so if a certain language sounds unappealing to you, keep your mouth shut and try to make the best of it - appreciation is wonderful, and tolerance is a minimum.

And with that said, I'm out.

I think you're being a bit too sensitive. Commenting on how Tagalog, Thai and Mandarin/Cantonese sounding alike is just an opinion. What's so ignorant about it? It's like saying how Chinese, Korean and Japanese people look alike. They're obviously not the same, but similar. And of course there will be people who can differentiate between them, and not, just like languages. + No one really stated that a particular language sounded "stupid" or "ugly" either.

I'm Korean, and posters have commented how it sounded like, such as being whiney and deep. So? It's fun and interesting to just know the truth.

---

To reply to the topic, I think Japanese sounds pretty =)
I can't tell whether is person is speaking Mandarin or Cantonese, because it sounds the same ^^"
All I know is that Cantonese as a few more different tones than Mandarin.
I can tell whether a person is speaking Vietnamese because I just hear a lot of "ph" sounds. Lol~ i don't know. Or like, it's a very slow paced language?..Well that's what I hear when my friends speak it.
& Thai sounds cool to me It sounds very flowyy.